Skincare Tips from the Pros: French Women
Skincare Tips from the Pros: French Women
By: Grace Logan
Ooh, la la! 2021 is the year of natural makeup looks. But, to achieve a natural makeup look, a proper skincare routine is a must. French beauty is known for its natural-looking makeup and prioritizing the skin. If you have ever watched a Vogue Beauty Secret video on Youtube, you know almost every celebrity praises french products. The best part about French beauty is they do not have to be expensive. With pharmaceutical brands such as La Roche Posay and Bioderma, the French skincare products are affordable and highlight the skin’s natural beauty so that a glowy makeup look can be achieved.
The most highly rated product I found was the Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water when researching French skincare. This product is not just any micellar water. It uses fatty acid esters to rebuild the skin’s lipid film. It is oil-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and paraben-free. It is great for someone who has sensitive skin. Simply soak a cotton ball or cotton pad and gently wipe away the makeup. It is best to use before a cleanser but can be used after to remove the remaining makeup. The best part about this product might be the price. On Dermstore, the 16.7 fl oz. bottle is only $14.90.
I cannot speak more highly about La Roche Posay’s Toleriane Purifying Foaming Soap Free Cleanser for cleansing. A long name but an absolute game-changing product. La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane products are great for sensitive skin and, according to their website, “reduce the risk of allergy or irritation.” With this product and most french skincare, I have learned that a little bit goes a long way. Wet your face with lukewarm water, use a pea-size amount of the cleanser and gently rub the product over your face. A trick to keep your skin feeling fresh is to wash your face and pat it with a towel to dry. La Roche Posay is available online and in stores at Ulta. This specific cleanser is another low-priced product. It is $14.99.
After cleansing, the proper way to continue your french skincare regimen is to tone. Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir is one of the highly-rated toners. It can be used as a toner or as a setting spray. Caudalie is more of a luxury skincare brand and is not as budget-friendly for some of the products; however, it has multiple benefits with this product. For a 3.4 fl oz bottle, it is $49.00 but if you are unsure about spending that much on a product you do not know about, I highly recommend going to Dermstore and getting the Caudalie essentials set for $46.00. It comes with an instant foaming cleanser, vinoperfect radiance serum, which I mention soon, vinosource moisturizing sorbet, premier cru the eye cream, another product I love, and the beauty elixir. This was a great beginning set to see if the Caudalie line is worth the money, and I cannot say how much I love them. This line is used by celebrities such as Iris Law, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Victoria Beckham.
Toning up those pores is important for the next step. A serum is an essential part of a skincare routine. Having just recently learned about serums, I was scared to use one because of my sensitive skin and fear of a breakout. With hours of research into french skincare, I have learned that the oil in a serum is good for the skin, not bad. Using the vinoperfect radiance serum that I got in the Caudalie essentials, I am amazed. Again, a little bit goes a long way, but this serum leaves my face feeling radiant and glowing. It is a splurge item if you find you want it by itself. For $79.00, the one fl oz will last you forever. I love to use this in the morning before the day to keep that glow. At night, I use a retinol serum by La Roche Posay. The Pure Retinol face serum with Vitamin B3 is perfect for a nighttime routine. It is, like most of the La Roche Posay products, oil-free and paraben-free. It is ideal for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin. This serum helps with fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage and helps the skin look smoother and hydrated. You can get this product at Ulta for $39.99 or Dermstore for the same price.
After we are done with the serums, it is highly recommended using moisturizer. Moisturizer was another product that I was terrified to use because of my acne-prone skin. La Roche Posay’s Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer has been key to keeping the skin soft and smooth. With both a day and night moisturizer, you can have SPF protected during the day and locked in moisture during the night. Double Repair Face Moisturizer has two different types of products. I use both the SPF 30 and the non-SPF as my morning and night moisturizers. With these two products, applying after the serums leave the skin smooth and glowing. Again, the Toleriane line through La Roche-Posay is perfect for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin. Both are available at Ulta for $19.99 each.
The final essential step to any skincare routine, but mostly the french, is an eye cream. Dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles are something no one wants, especially when you want to look as youthful and glowing as possible. Using the Caudalie’s Premier Cru the Eye Cream, the eyes will be moisturized and help prevent aging. It is quite a luxurious product, and with any eye cream, you will have to drop more money. Individually, the Caudalie eye cream is $99.00. I know it hurts. But, when using the essential set off of Dermstore, you can see if it works for you without dropping $100. There are several cheaper french eye creams, especially with brands like La Roche-Posay and Bioderma.
A bonus tip the French love to add to their daily routine is thermal spring water. Avene’s Thermal Spring water is one of the purest on the market. It calms redness and irritation while soothing the skin. It is another product that is perfect for sensitive skin. This product can be used as a primer, setting spray, hydrator, or moisturizer itself. It is excellent for after a workout or being outdoors as a refresher to the skin. The product ranges from $18.00 to a value pack of 3 for $22.00. The value pack is a way to put a small bottle in your purse, bag, and at home so you can have your fresh skin anywhere you go.
The French skincare world is more than just these products, and there are so many different brands to choose from. Prioritizing your skin this year will achieve that model look and make you feel like a global traveler.
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